Imagine cooling your home more efficiently, slashing your energy bills, and contributing to a healthier planet—all with one simple step. This is the impact of cleaning your air conditioner filters, a revelation recently highlighted by a TikTok user.
The Discovery
Kayla Krasnow, a New York City influencer known on TikTok as @kaylakrasnow, regularly changes the filters in her air purifier. However, she hadn’t considered doing the same for her apartment’s air conditioning units until recently. In a revealing video, Kayla showcased the thick layer of black dust coating one of her AC filters. “That black is also, like, dust or mold or something,” she explains. “This filter was clear. It’s not, like, charcoal-based or anything.”
After thoroughly cleaning the filter, Kayla reinstalled it in her bedroom AC unit, set to 70°F with the curtains mostly drawn. The result was immediate and impressive. “My bedroom is frozen — I think this is why,” she reports, noting that even a setting of 68°F with open curtains hadn’t been enough to cool the room the previous night. She urges her followers, “If you have AC in your apartment, go check it and clean out the filter if you haven’t in a while.”
The Benefits
Regularly cleaning your AC filters offers more than just a perfectly chilled room. Dirty, clogged filters force your air conditioner to work harder, consuming more energy and driving up your utility bills. In contrast, a clean filter allows the AC to operate more efficiently, cooling your space faster and using less power. This efficiency not only reduces your energy expenses but also lowers your carbon footprint. Simple maintenance actions like this can significantly decrease the amount of dirty energy burned, thereby reducing carbon pollution.
Cleaning your AC filters is a straightforward, effective way to save money and help the environment, while also ensuring your appliances run smoothly. However, it’s just the beginning of how small changes can lead to big benefits.